@debjeffrey.bsky.social
Canadian bird nerd, advocate for social & environmental justice, believer in building strong community by sharing info on issues & events. Any humour in dark times appreciated.
Join in ZOOM phone zap on Monday Nov. 17.
In spite of a Canadian commitment to an arms embargo where no arms would reach Israel, we are violating it by shipping parts to the U.S. for arms manufacture - which then sends them to Israel. www.eventbrite.com/e/urgent-pho...
More on "cultural appropriation of spirituality of the “imagined community” of idealized Native Americans."
cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/elemen...
"Chief Seattle's speech went unnoted in the written record until October 29, 1887, when the Seattle Sunday Star published a text reconstructed from admittedly incomplete notes by Dr. Smith." At least two other 'versions' have appeared since 1969.
www.cooperative-individualism.org/crowley-walt...
Words attributed to Chief Seattle 1854. This we know: The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life: he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
Iconic words attributed to Chief Seattle in 1854 -- exposed as myth & yet another act of colonialism. Invented by white men to serve their purpose. Justifiable now as admirable beliefs? Not if based on misrepresentation & distortion of Indigenous history.
www.humanecologyreview.org/pastissues/h...
My 'elephant' is all the denial around me regarding the crisis of the rapidly deteriorating geophysical state of our planet. The more comfortable people are at the moment, the less likely they will engage in even talking about it. "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff comes to mind.
15.11.2025 14:43 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Elephant in the Room, poem by Kay Ryan The room is almost all elephant. Almost none of it isn't. Pretty much solid elephant. so there's no room to talk about it.
Kay Ryan's arresting poem,'The Elephant in the Room', has as many meanings as there are readers of it, I dare say. The effect on one person at this link. encouragement.ghost.io/kay-ryan-the...
What or who is your 'elephant'?
Excerpts of a couple of BIG questions. Might take a minute or two
"What are people doing when they use moral words such as “good” and “right”?
Are some things morally right or wrong for all people at all times, or does morality vary from person to person, context to context, or culture to culture?"
Helpful article, still timely. Would that it had been heeded when Naomi Oreskes penned it in 2020. In hope that U.S. educational institutions are doing more so now.
This is an issue in Canada as well. Don't kid yourselves that it is not. I witnessed first hand the danger to truth & unfairness.
deAdder noting Canada's switch & bait for the media. They were so busy fussing over a Conservation defection to the Liberals that their feeble light did not shine much on the first budget from this government. Happy military and fossil fuel gangs. Climate and housing...pffft.
MPs Crossing
Rembrance Day just past in Canada. My mind went to that horrible Oct. 7, 2023 & loss of life on both sides of the conflict in Israel. The price paid by people in Gaza is unconscionable & the intial attacks unacceptable.
Thinking of The Balfour Declaration 108 years ago. Colonialism's 'dead' end.
Dearest peers...Beware your confirmation bias. It for sure detracts from credibilty when promoting action on subjects you care about. We follow and frequently share info on our concerns but accuracy is crucial. www.zmescience.com/science/news...
13.11.2025 13:56 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Reading from the course and a connection to a useful forum: forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/SwG8Tj...
13.11.2025 06:46 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0If some neuroscience is saying that humans are naturally egoistic and amoral, how we do evolve past that? Clarify and challenge your values?
Free course from Princeton 'Effective Altruism'
www.coursera.org/learn/altruism
Aww! An educator making good effort to give simple explanations of complex subjects (religion, forms of government, politics etc.) and trying to be unbiased while doing it.
This one could be handy these days to help people connect the dots without being preached to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNBn...
Just released by the LIving Wage Network for Ontario.
A living wage is the hourly rate a worker needs to be paid per 35 hr week to cover basic expenses and participate in their community.
Minimum wage now is $17.60/hour for all of Ontario.
Employers can advertise that they pay a living wage.
Glad I had the time to listen with an hour of hands-on tasks where my brain was not involved. Disturbing report from you on media control in Ottawa. Rather Harperish, along with the budget. Relieved hearing others voice distress over failure to lead on climate chaos. No Carney honeymoon for me.
12.11.2025 01:53 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Photo of the National War Memorial Ottawa centotaph unveiling King George 1939. Large crowds. Parliament Hill in background
Ottawa National War Memorial in the 1950s on Remembrance Day. Large crowds and many armed forces personnel
Conferation Square in Ottawa before the War Memorial was built. Parliament Hill in the background.
Remembrance Day, Conderation Square, downtown Ottawa. At left, the unveiling of the National War Memorial in 1939 by King George just before WWII began. Next, mid 1950s after the Korean War & WWll. Then, a vacant space in 1930.
So much conflict & innocent lives lost since then. #Peace where are you?
Sigh. From Wayne Horton. More pointed than news from Reuter...
"AntiVaxxer II: Measles Reborn"
Canadian contributions of uniformed personnel (military and police) since 1950, showing the peak number for each year and the main missions giving rise to the peaks. Mission acronyms (chronological): UNEF (UN Emergency Force, Sinai); ONUC (UN Operation in the Congo); UNFICYP (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus); UNDOF (UN Disengagement Observer Force, Golan Heights); UNPROFOR (UN Protection Force); UNOSOM (UN Operation in Somalia); UNTAC (UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia); UNMEE (UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea); MINUSTAH (UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti); MINUSMA UN (Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali)
Canadian investment in peace-keeping roles from 1950 to 2020. Now Carney increases spending on the military. it is time to ask loudly where we are going.
Explanation of figure and history here:
"Canada and UN #Peace Operations:
Re-engaging Slowly but Not so Surely"
walterdorn.net/home/304-can...
Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com - well done sharing of ideas on CBC The Sunday Magazine
Half-baked apple pies, indeed. Have a listen. Interesting take on the fear factor and feeling impotent leading to turning away from action for many.
www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday...
As COP30 begins, the perils are at a higher level than ever before.
"We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the #climate are no longer future threats but are here now."
Timely release for policy makers but...
Asking...Follow up with action, why don't you? SVP. www.dogwoodbc.ca/petitions/ca...
10.11.2025 05:39 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Oh my, how well The Juice Media @thejuicemedia.com uses colourful language and facts to shake us up and make us pay attention! Drawing on the faux pas of Australian experience to wake us up... 98.9% satire? That 1.1% that is not satire is the clincher. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6H...
10.11.2025 05:33 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A suggestion that a "neuroscience-based theory of human nature as inherently emotional, amoral and egoistic can be extended onto our understanding of states, international relations and global security."
Hmmm. Proof seems to be in the pudding as per most choices now made by leaders of many states.
Photos of giant magpie puppets in action, created by Judith Hope
Give yourself two minutes of enchantment by watching 'The Keeper's Nest's. The creations of UK artist, Judith Hope, as filmed by Susan Tuckwell celebrate both #birds and humanity's aspirations. Find the film trailer here at this link.
www.judithhope.com/puppets
Has anyone here seen them in action?
Humans are oddly seduced by inessentials, latching on without caution.
The Great Lakes now face problems from data centers using HUGE volumes of water.
For DDT. "Yay, no mosquitos", said everyone. "
"Oh wait...everything else is dying too"
For GEN AI "Yay, no need to think. Oh wait...no water"
Switzerland tops with 145.6 millionaires per 1,000 adults, equal to 1 in 7 Swiss adults.
Hong Kong (96.1), Australia (85.2), & the United States (84.8) form a cluster below 100.
Social democracies are also high end. Strong & equitable social programs may be a plus for markets - and for real people.
I'd say too, for the sake of reducing #climate chaos in whatever way we can. And we will be economic losers, in the short & long term.
corporateknights.com/perspectives...
If your and Erik M. Conway's history from the future (2013), indeed comes to pass, we're almost halfway through "the Period of the Penumbra". So 500 cuts made...500 to go?
I see M.I.T has a link to a PDF of 'The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future'. Are you OK with sharing it?
